Scottish rugby legends help Musselburgh RFC celebrate centenary

Former Scotland internationalists – including brothers Gavin and Scott Hastings and Iain and Kenny Milne, John Jeffrey, Sean Lineen, Jim Calder and player/coach Ian McGeechan – gave welcome contributions to a recent online celebration, while there was also a special message from Doddie Weir, who is battling motor neurone disease.

Another guest of honour was current Scotland captain Stuart Hogg.

The club’s plans to host a formal dinner are on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic but its 100-year history was covered in the successful and well-attended ‘virtual’ event.

Interesting stories and memories were shared by members, players, captains and presidents.

Drew Johnston, club president, said: “Although it has been a strange year, as a Musselburgh boy who has been part of the club for 45 years, I am greatly honoured to be president as we reach our centenary.”

Drew Johnston, president of Musselburgh RFC, displays bottles of the centenary real ale and gin

He added: “I am confident that when rugby does return, Musselburgh RFC will be able to continue to play its part at the top end of the club game in Scotland.

“We have two senior XVs now, a social XV, strong youth and mini sections, and have forged close links with Musselburgh Grammar School, where we have a fledgling girls’ team.

“We are determined to continue to be a community club and a ‘club for all’, with our key values of ‘Integrity, Inclusion and Respect’ to the fore.”

Musselburgh RFC will be sharing centenary videos which walk through its history, created by OsGood Films, on their social media platforms and website www.musselburghrfc.com

Jill Irving, treasurer, said: “Musselburgh Sports Club was formed in 1920 by locals who noticed a thirst for outdoor sports in the town and included sports such as football, athletics, cricket, golf and rugby.

“The original minute book of the sports club documents the application and sanction of the formation of a rugby section on February 15, 1921, and thus Musselburgh Rugby Football Club was established.

“The first official match for MRFC was an away fixture against the Royal College of Surgeons on November 2, 1921, which Musselburgh won 9-3.

“Following long negotiations, the Earl of Wemyss agreed to lease seven acres of land to the sports club at Shirehaugh, by the banks of the River Esk and where Monktonhall Golf Club now resides.

“In the 1930s, the other sports such as football and cricket were all going their separate ways while the rugby club membership was strengthening, so in 1938 the Musselburgh Sports Club was renamed the Musselburgh Rugby Football Club.

“This was also the first year of the club’s annual sevens tournament, a tradition which continues to this day.

“The club moved to their current home at Stoneyhill in 1951, shortly after they entered the Scottish Rugby Union as a full member in 1948.

“The facilities of the community centre were used and the clubhouse was officially opened in 1971 with a celebratory half-centenary match against Hawick.

“Changing rooms were added in 1983, and the club’s 1st XV were promoted to League Division 1 in 1987.

“They returned to the top flight of Scottish club rugby, now called the Premiership, in 2020, where they remain today.”

Jill added: “The club has prided itself on fielding local talent on the pitch coming through the ranks of its successful mini and youth programme, one of the oldest sections in Scotland, running coaching for players from P1 through to senior and now with a dedicated youth development officer within Musselburgh Grammar School.

“Relying heavily on volunteers to perform all the necessary roles needed to run, MRFC consistently delivers youth and senior rugby, a clubhouse facility with bar, function facilities and catering on match days.

“The club boasts a membership of over 300 people and has reignited connections with many local businesses through a recent and successful sponsorship drive. The centenary project of adding a gym to the clubhouse is now under way, and the club look forward to offering this new facility to players, members and the local community.”

The club has not allowed the pandemic to dampen its 100th birthday celebrations and launched special drinks over Christmas to herald the centenary year.

Working closely with Hurly Burly Brewery at Inveresk Industrial Estate, three real ales have been named Shirehaugh, Stoneyhill and Butcher’s Apron (the navy and white striped strip design worn by the teams) to commemorate the club’s history.

The club also worked with one of its sponsors and supporters, Pickering’s Gin, Edinburgh, to create a commemorative bottle of gin.

All drinks sport the newly registered Musselburgh RFC centenary tartan (pictured above), designed to incorporate the club colours of navy, white and red.